H.B. No. 651 seeks to abolish the death penalty in Texas by amending various sections of the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure. The bill removes provisions that previously allowed for the death penalty as a punishment for capital felonies, replacing it with life imprisonment without parole as the maximum sentence. Specifically, it deletes language mandating the death penalty in cases where the state sought it and clarifies that jurors in capital felony trials will only be informed of life imprisonment sentences, depending on the offender's age at the time of the crime. Additionally, the bill modifies jury trial procedures and the appointment of counsel for indigent defendants, ensuring the right to waive a jury trial is maintained while eliminating references to capital cases involving the death penalty.

The bill also amends laws regarding restitution payments to victims, requiring the court to provide the name and address of the person or agency responsible for forwarding payments or the victim's name and permanent address if payments are made directly to them. It further modifies Section 557.012(b) of the Government Code to clarify that the punishment for offenses under this section includes life imprisonment or a term of not less than two years, while repealing several provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. These changes will apply to all criminal actions pending or commenced after the bill's effective date, without affecting any final convictions existing at that time. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 12.31, Government Code 557.012 (Penal Code 12, Government Code 557)